motivation

Are you rejection resilient? You better be. The most meaningful things in life – the things we care about most – are also the things that can crush our spirits, tick us off, and leave us feeling like we want to curl up in bed eating pasta and the watching The Kardashians. Yes, rejection can […]

I hit send about 20 minutes ago on a speaking proposal that has a good chance of being rejected. But instead of feeling nervous, I feel exhilarated. I feel alive. When I was just starting out as a writer, most of the advice I received from more experienced souls was to “start small.” Send ideas […]

One way we short-circuit our dreams is to by doing things that impede our success. For example, if I want to lose weight, but I’m filling the cupboard with chips and cookies (darn Girl Scouts) I’m making it harder to eat healthier. The best way to make tracks toward my goal then, isn’t to simply […]

Last week I learned the proper form for a deadlift. I also learned a new chord on the ukulele, how ebola is transmitted, what it’s like to adapt a screenplay from a book, and exactly how to shape puff pastry into a gross, intestine-like shape. I also had a conversation about how some forms of […]

One of the reasons I was drawn to writing is that it requires me to learn new stuff. To write well you’ve got to read and talk to people and research and try new things and contemplate and ponder and question — and these are a few of my favorite things. I am curious. There […]

My daughter charged back to her bedroom to get a pair of shoes for school. She came back with two Barbies, a stuffy, a hot-pink headband in her hair, a water bottle from under the bed, a scratch on her leg from playing with the cat. She did not come back with shoes. There were […]

I’m in the thick of it now — A slew of work deadlines this week, some I’ve been working on for months. It will take focus, determination and drive to get it done so I’m thinking a lot about persistence and the things that keep us going. Here’s a greatest hit post on the topic. […]

Last week a Facebook post I wrote received 62 “likes.” I felt good about it. Then, I felt weird about it. What is this need I have for people to “like” my posts. Am I a people pleaser? Worse yet, has it morphed into something stronger and more limited like an approval addiction? What is […]

Chances are your inner voices are talking to you right now. Reminding you to pick up the dry cleaning and feed the cat, to finish the deadline and pay the bills. But, if you’ve just had a fight with your spouse or you are under pressure at work, your self-talk might be saying something different, […]

Perseverance is a prized quality in this culture. It’s also an aspect of grit and resilience and helps us overcome the tough stuff to develop greater well-being. But, when we are persisting at the wrong things – the unachievable goal, the insurmountable obstacle, or some other outcome that others want for us – that kind […]